Stopper for nonrefillable receptacles



Junls, 1944. E,` 'PETRONE 2,351,227

STOPPER FOR NONREFILLABLE RECEPTACLES FiledNov. 9, 1940 i f i n l i y* INVENTOR.

OZQQ Pff/99251052 BY mi., ffwy.

Patented June 13, 1944 STOPPER NONREFILLABLE RECKEP'IACLES Robert Petrone, Chicago, Ill. Application November 9, 1940, Serial No. 365,064

2 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for preventing the reiilling of bottles, carboys, jugs and other liquid containers.

The principal object vof the invention is the provision of a stopper or closure for a container provided with mechanism that is so constructed that it cannot be manipulated intol such position that a liquid can be introduced into the container nor into such position that the mechanism may be tampered with for introducing a liquid into such container, such mechanism being so constructed that any liquid put in the container before the improved stopper is applied may be poured therefrom. l

A further object of the invention is the provision of a non-refillable stopper or closure for a container that is inexpensive to manufacture, is easily assembled, eincient in operation, composed of few moving parts and one that will prevent the introduction of a liquid into the container but will permit the liquid in the container to be discharged therefrom in a minimum amount of time.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a container showing the invention in position therein;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. I;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a verticalV section of a modifiedV form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of a further modi# fied form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig'. 5;' and Fig. 7 is a vertical section of a still further modified form of the invention. I

ProducersV or manufacturers of liquids that have attained considerable reputation often suffer loss of sales by unscrupulous persons that rell the containers bearing these reputable trademarks, trade-names, or other identifying insignia, with an inferior liquid and sell the same as" from the original manufacturer or producer.

Various devices have been proposed for remedying this diiiculty by the provision of mechanism for preventing the refilling of the containersu but they have been inefficient, or if eicient, they have been so complicated that the cost of manu`` facturing and applying the same has been unprotable and in some cases prohibitive;

The present invention seeks to remedy this situation by theprovision of a new and improved stopper or closure that is inexpensive to manufacture and eiicient in use.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character I0 designates a container such as a bottle, jug, carboy, or the like, of glass, earthenware, or other suitable material, which has its upper portion provided with the neck lI having an axial opening or passage I2, as is usual in such constructions. The axial opening I2 is adapted to be closed by a stopper, plug or closure I3 which is adapted tov be secured in place by any suitable means, such as cement or the like, for permanently holding the member in position.

The stopper or closure I3 comprises a lower section I4', Fig. 1, and an upper' section I5 which may be cemented together, if' desired. The upper section I5 has a cylindrical portion adapted to be inserted in the container opening and a flange portion 20 that seats on the end of the neck for limiting the inward movement of the closure or stopper. A gasket 200 is inserted between the ange 2El and the end of the neck II for sealing the joint between the neck and Harige. The section I5 is also provided with a recess, passage or opening I6 in which a conventional corkV or' other stopper may be inserted. Thisrpass'age extends longitudinally through the section and its lower portion is reduced in diameter. AThe lower end of the upper sectionv I 5 is reduced to form a-down- Wardly extending axial projection or reduced end Il which' is adapted to extend downwardly into a counterbore I'8 formed in the upper end of the lower section I4, as clearly shownin Fig. l of the drawing. The reduced end I1 forms a shoulder I9`which is adapted to seat on the upper end of the lower section I4.

The upper end of the lower section I4- is provided with an annular groove 2l and the upper section is provided with a bore 22 which, when the parts are assembled, will be in communication with the groove 2l in any' angular position to which the upper section may be turned. The lower section I4 is provided with a vertical bore or passage 23 which isV also in communication withl the groove 2l. The bore 23 extends entirely through the lower section' yIl! lengthwise thereof and has its lower end enlarged laterally in one direction as shown at 254 in Fig. 1. The enlarged portion 24 of the bore 23 has secured in the lower end thereof, atubular member 25 which has a valve seat 26 formed inr its upper end.` A ball valve 21L engages the valve seat' 26 for! closing the bore 28 of the tubular member 25. The ball 21 is adapted to prevent the entranceof air o'r any uid into the container but is adapted to open the passage when the container is inverted for admitting air to replace the liquid in the container. wardly into the enlarged space 24 so that when the container is inverted, this spur will prevent the ball from seating and closing the bore or passage 23. It will thus be seen that when the container is inverted, that air may enter into the container to replace the liquid by passing down the bore or passage 22, which is preferably offset from the passage 23, thence around the channel 2|, along the passage 23, past the valve 21 and finally through the passage 23 into the container.

The lower section I4 of the stopper is provided with an axial passage or bore |60 which extends entirely through said section axially thereof. The upper portion of this bore is enlarged as at I8 and the intermediate portion 3| is of smaller diameter than the upper portion thus forming the annular shoulder 32 on which the deflector member 33 is adapted to seat. The lower portion 34 of this passage is further reduced in diameter to form the annular seat 35 on which the main valve 36 is adapted to seat. The walls of the bore |60 are further restricted at their lower ends to form a valve seat 31 on which a secondary valve 38 is adapted to seat.

The deflector member 33 comprises a disk 39, Fig. 2, and this disk 'has attached thereto, about its periphery, spacer arms 4| which extend radially from. the deilector 33 and rest on the shoulder 32, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawing. The arms or projections 4| are extended upwardly, as shown at 42 in Fig. 1 so as to space the disk 33 from the lower end of the upper section I1 to provide a passage for the liquid contained in the container when the latter is inverted, as will presently appear. 'I'he diameter of the disk 33 is less than that of the intermediate section 3| of the passage so that when the container is inverted, liquid may pass upwardly through the space formed between the disk 33 and the shoulder 32, as will be clear from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2.

A'I he valve 36 comprises a disk 43 having an axially depending stem portion 44 having an axial bore or passage 45 extending upwardly therein. The stern 44 has arms or fins 46 radiatingi therefrom as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. These finsv guide the valve to its seat in its vertical movement without materially interfering with the flow of liquid through the valve when the same is opened which may be done by inverting the container.

The valve 38 comprises a semi-circular head portion 41 which maybe in the form of a hollow hemisphere of Monel metal or other suitable material which will not be chemically affected by the liquid in the container. The stopper sections, deector and valve 36 may, if desired, be of porcelain or other scalable material. The head 41 is provided with a valve stem 48 which extends upwardly into the bore or passage 45 of the stem V44 of the valve 36 for Vguiding the valve 38 in its vertical movement.

The valves 3 6 and 38 are seated when the receptacle I is in upright position and when it is desired to remove the liquid from the container, the stopper in the recess I6 is removed and the. container inverted which will unseat the'valves 38 and 36. The liquid will then pass along the bore or passage |60, past thevalve 41, laterally and longitudinally around the A spur or projection 29 extends down# valve 36, and then will pass laterally upwardly and inwardly around the deiiector 33 and out through the axial bore I6. In the meantime, the valve 21 will have been unseated and air will pass down its passage 22, as viewed in Fig. '1, around the groove 2| and down the passages 23 and 28 for replacing the liquid. In order to hold the valve 38 by gravity on its seat when the receptacle I0 is in upright position, an annular weight member 49, having an axial opening therein, is mounted on the stem 48.

It will thus be seen that should an unauthorized person attempt to refill the container by inverting the same and forcing the liquid through the passage I6, the light valve 38 will tend to l float on top of the liquid and close the passage |60 for preventing this operation. Should an attempt be made to iill the container while in upright position, both valves 36 and 38 will be closed for preventing this operation. The weight member 49 will close the valve 38 when the container is in upright position but will rest on the Valve 36 and be ineffective when the container is inverted. It will be noted that the tortuous path of the passage lengthwise the stopper is such as to prevent anyone from thrusting a wire or the like down the passage for opening the valves 36 and 38 or either of them.

The passage 22, 23, 28 is so smalband long and tortuous thatl there is not much likelihood of anyone attempting to refill the container through this passage. However, a valve 21 is provided which will close by gravity when the container is inv upright position and will be seated by the force of the moving liquid if it is attempted to rell the container while in inverted position.

A suitable cap 30 is provided which may be threaded onto the neck II of the container IIJ, as shown in Fig. 1. This cap has an axial opening which extends about the stopper opening I6 and is of larger diameter than the opening I6 whereby the same may contain a sealing material or the like bearing the manufacturers seal. This cap may also be cemented in position so that .it may not be removed.

The ball valve 21 is also preferably of light material butl not light enough to float in liquids of low speciiic gravity so that if an attempt is made to force a liquid into the container while the same is in inverted position, the movement of the liquid will carry the valve to its seat thus stopping the movement of the liquid through the passage 28. 4 1 Y The form of the construction'` shown in Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Fig. 1 in thatthe valve 360 in the stopper |38 between the upper and lower sections thereof is providedV with a concave recess 5I and the spacer member. |80 has its lower surface correspondingly convex for forming a space 52 in which a ball 53 is mounted. The ball 53 will hold the valve 368 on its seat even though the container be inverted. A recess 54 isprovided in the adjacent wall of the lower section |40 ofthe stopper. Since the remainder ofthe structure isv substantially the same as'that already described, itis not thought necessary to further illustrate or describe the same. except to state the valve 410 is not weighted.

Anyone `knowing the contruction may remove the liquid from the container by first moving the 'containertoy horizontal position with the recess or pocket 54 turned down. The ball 53 will run into the pocket and the container may be turned further into inverted position whereby the valve 365 will move to open position.

In Fig. is shown a modied form of construction and in this form of the device, the stopper 55 is a one-piece structure having a cylindrical transverse opening 55 through its intermediate portion in which is mounted a cylindrical plug 51. The stopper 55 is provided with a longitudinal axial opening 58 which extends throughout the length or" the stopper and this bore or passage is enlarged as at 59 for receiving a conventional stopper or any suitable closure. The passage is 'restricted as at 6I and the plug 51 is provided with a spherical intermediate portion 62 opposite the restricted opening 6 I, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings;

The spherical portion 52 is provided on its undersurface with an upwardly extending annular recess 63 into which the upper reduced end 64 of a cylindrical insert G5 extends. The insert 65 is rigidly mounted within the lower end of the bore 58 and has a valve seat member 65 secured in its lower portion. The valve seat member 66 is provided with an axial passage or -bore 61 and the upper end of the valve seat member is provided with a valve seat (i8 on which is seated the valve $9. The valve E9 is hollow and has a stem 'EI attached thereto which extends upwardly into the reduced end or neck 55 oi the insert 65 which forms a guide for said valve. The valve SS, being hollow, is light but not light enough to iloat so that when the container in which the stopper I is used is inverted, liquid may not be forced upwardly into the container because the valve, being light, will seat and close the passage G1. The weight of the liquid, when the container is inverted, will cause the same to unseat the valve and flow through the passage 55 from the container.

It will be seen that the liquid, when poured from the container, will pass through the passage 61, the insert 55, and ow upwardly and then downwardly around the restricted wall 64 of the insert and then upwardly around the spherical member 62, through the passages 12, Fig. 6, and thence through the restricted passage 5I and passage 59. It will also be noted that the path through which the liquid passes is a sinuous one and as a result, the valve 69 may not be unseated by the manipulation of a wire or other member thrust downward through the passage.

Suitable means are also provided for permitting the entrance of air into the container for displacing the liquid contained therein. As shown, the upper and lower portions of the stopper |30 are provided with alined passages 13 and 14 and the plug 51 is provided with an annular passage 15 which is in communication with the passages 13 and 1G. I'he lower end of the passage 14 is counterbored and has attached thereto a tubular member 'I6 which has its lower end enlarged as at 11 for containing a valve 18. A valve seat member 1t is inserted in the lower end oi the enlarged portion 11 of the tubular member and is provided with a valve seat on which the valve 18 rests. A pin 195 may be inserted transversely across the enlargement of the tube 15 for limiting the upward movement of the valve so that it cannot close the passage leading from the enlargement into the upper portion of the tubular member 16 when the receptacle is inverted. Like the previous construction, the passages 13 and 14, through the stopper are very small in diameter so that practically no liquid can be inserted through this passage and none escapes when the container is inverted.

In Fig. '7 is shown a further modified form of the construction and in this igure, the stopper member 8l is made in two parts, as in the construction shown in Fig. l. The upper portion 82 is constructed similar to the upper portion I5 of the stopper shown in Fig. 1 and it is not thought necessary to repeat the description.

The lower section 83 of the stopper has an axial bore 84 extending throughout the length of the lower section which is in alinement with the reduced portion 55 of the passage 35 of the upper section, as shown in said gure. The reduced end 8l of the upper section is adapted to fit in the upper portion of the bore of the lower section, as in the previous construction. The upper portion oi' the passage Sii is enlarged to form shoulders Siti on which is seated a spacer member 89. The spacer member 89 comprises an inverted cupshaped portion Si which is provided with radially extending arms or projections 92 which are adapted to be seated on the shoulder B8. The cupsliaped portion Si is of less diameter than the opening of the passage below the shoulders so as to form an annular space S3 about said cupshaped member for the passage oi' the liquid from the container. The arms 92 are extended upwardly to provide a space 94 between the upper section 82 and the cup-shaped portion 9| of the spacer B9.

The lower portion of the bore 84 is further reduced to form a shoulder 9S on which a valve supporting member 91 is adapted to seat. The valve supporting member 91 is rigidly mounted in the passage 95 and is provided with an upstanding portion e3 having an axial opening therein. A valve member 99 is seated on the upper end of the upstanding portion 95 of the valve support 91. This Valve member has a depending stern IBI in the form or an X in crosssection which guides the valve within the bore of the valve seat member. The lower end of the lower section 83 is provided with a valve seat H12 reduced in diameter on which a valve |03 is adapted to seat. rThis valve will prevent the entrance of fluid into the container.

The upper and lower sections of the stopper are provided with passages IM and H15 arranged as in the construction shown in Fig. l. A valve Hi8 is also provided as in the previous construction. When the container in which the stopper is used is inverted, the valve Iii3 will become unseated and likewise the valve 59. The liquid then will pass upwardly past the valve IGS, through the opening in the valve seat 81 and downwardly around the lower edge of the cup 9|, and thence upwardly through the passage 93, the space 94 and the restricted passage from the container.

It will be noted that in all forms of the device, the liquid, when poured from the container, flows along a sinuous or winding path, that is, it flows first axially outwardly, then radially outwardly, then axially outwardly, then radially inwardly and finally axially outwardly axially from the container.

It is thought from the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, that the construction and operation of my device will be apparent to those skilled in the art and that changes in size, shape, proportion and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In combination, a container having a neck provided with an axial opening, said container being adapted to contain a liquid, a sectional stopper within said opening, said stopper comprising a lower body portion having an axial passage therethrough leading to said container, said passage being restricted at its lower end to form a valve seat, a Valve for said seat for closing said passage against the entry of a liquid to said container, said valve having an upwardly extending stem, said valve being light enough to float in said liquid, a `weight loosely mounted on said stem, a guide for said stem, an air passage formed by a groove in on-e of the sections of said stopper and extending through said stopper, said passage having its intermediate portion curved through a large number of degrees, a valve within said air passage for admitting air to said container only when said container is inverted, and means for preventing a liquid from traveling in a straight line from said container to the exterior thereof when the same is inverted.

2. In combination, a container having a neck providedr with an axial opening through which' a liquid is introduced into said container, means insertible in said opening to form two separate passages, one of said last-named passages constituting a liquid passage through which a liquid may vpass when said container is inverted and the other an air passage for introducing air into said container when the same is inverted, said means including a stopper comprising an upper section and a lower section, said sections having alined axial passages forming said liquid passage, a deiiector between said sections in an intermediate portion of said liquid passage and intercepting the same, a main valve seated in said liquid passage beneath said deector, said main valve having a' stem provided with radially extending guiding ns for positioning said valve, a secondary valve in said liquid passage below said main valve, said valves cooperating to prevent the entrance of a liquid into said container when the latter is in upright position, said air passage being formed b-y a groove in one section of said stopper and curved through at least 180 in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container and in communication with a straight passage in each of said sections, and means associated with said air passage for preventing the entrance of air in said container when same is in upright position.

ROBERT PETRONE. 

